Sarcopenia, bone mineral density, and vitamin D: EpiFloripa aging study 2013/2014

OBJECTIVE: To verify associations between osteopenia/osteoporosis and vitamin D and sarcopenia in the older adult population of Florianópolis, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study, with 604 older adults (60 years and over). The appendicular muscle mass index (AMMI) was used to identify sarcopenia, with cutoffs of AMMI (Kg/m2) < 7.26 kg/m2 for men and < 5.50 kg/m2 for women indicating inadequate values (sarcopenia). The independent variable osteopenia/osteoporosis was measured using bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2): T-Scores for whole body BMD, lumbar spine BMD, and femoral neck BMD, categorized as normal (BMD > -1 SD) or osteopenia/osteoporosis (BMD < -1 SD from the mean of the young adult reference population). Fasting serum samples were collected and assayed using the microparticle chemiluminescence (CMIA)/Liaison method. Vitamin D concentrations of < 30 ng/mL were defined as hypovitaminosis. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Osteopenia/osteoporosis in the lumbar spine and femoral neck were associated with higher odds of sarcopenia in women and men. Osteopenia/osteoporosis in the whole body was associated with sarcopenia in women only. Vitamin D was not associated with sarcopenia in either sex. CONCLUSIONS: Having osteopenia/osteoporosis was associated with sarcopenia in this older adult population.